One dead in collision on Highway 50

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A male pedestrian was killed Friday night after he was hit by a vehicle while crossing Highway 50.

About 6:45 p.m., police received a report of a pedestrian behind hit by a vehicle in front of Taco Bell on Highway 50. South Lake Tahoe police officers found an unconscious 51-year-old man lying on the roadway and attempted to resuscitate him until South Lake Tahoe fire and ambulance personnel arrived on the scene and took over, according to a press release. The victim was transported to Barton Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Officers contacted the driver of the vehicle, Gregory Stearns, 49, of South Lake Tahoe, and found that he had a suspended driver's license from a prior DUI conviction, police said. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving on a suspended license.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. According to police, the pedestrian was crossing Lake Tahoe Boulevard outside of a crosswalk, was wearing dark clothing in an unlit portion of the highway and failed to yield to oncoming traffic. He may have also been intoxicated and has a history of public intoxication, according to police.